RANK #399 / 996 · POP 136,150 · KY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.1%
Boone County, Kentucky, is home to Rabbit Hash, a small Ohio River community notable for its historic general store and a tradition of electing canine mayors. Located in northern Kentucky, the county sits on the Ohio River and is part of the larger Cincinnati metropolitan area. Burlington serves as the county seat. Commuting to Cincinnati is common, with options including personal vehicles and the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) bus service, which offers park-and-ride locations. The community offers a blend of suburban and rural living, with access to outdoor recreation like the Boone County Arboretum, the nation's first arboretum within an active recreation park setting. Big Bone Lick State Park, known as the "birthplace of American paleontology," also provides natural scenery and historical interest.
Life in Boone County often appeals to families and young professionals, many of whom commute to nearby Cincinnati. The public school system is highly rated, with numerous elementary, middle, and high schools serving the area. The economy is experiencing growth, particularly in logistics and transportation, driven in part by the expansion of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport into a major cargo hub. This has led to ongoing commercial and residential development, with new housing construction targeting various income levels. The county is projected to see continued population growth and job creation in the coming decades.
Contracting economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.6x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Union Residential Development (882 units)
Fischer Homes / Grand Communities LLC
|
$200M | Proposed |
|
Amazon Last-Mile Delivery Station
Amazon
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Boone County has a Boom Town Index score of 60/100, ranking #399 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.1% and a median household income of $91,697, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Boone County is $237,600 with median rent at $1,177/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3859, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.1% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.1%. Home values changed +2.0% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.86% of Boone County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.